Women's Cycling in the UK

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10 Minutes With…Karla Boddy

The first in a series of articles in which we ask well-known professional and amateur cyclists ten questions, some serious and some flippant; and they answer in as much detail as they wish.

Karla Boddy grew up in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and now lives in Thame, Oxfordshire. She first started cycling in 2009 when she entered the Dragon Ride, a sportive that raises funds for charity; after training hard for it, she decided to join her local cycling club, High Wycombe Cycling Club. In 2011, Karla entered her first race – and just two years later she won the Cheshire Classic, one of the most prestigious competitions on the British National Series. She juggles cycling with working fulltime for Capita as an Implementation Manager.

On a beach! And looking back at a successful year with Epic-Scott from a team and individual perspective.

What does the future hold for women’s cycling? Are you optimistic or pessimistic?

Optimistic. I think we will slowly see a split in race categories and shift from the standard ‘E1234’ approach for all races across to E12 and 3/4 races, much like the men’s racing scene. This just demonstrates the increasing strength and depth to the women’s cycling scene.

In 2013, a lot of fans have been getting more involved in women’s cycling by helping to promote races and riders. Do you have any suggestions what we can do to help even more?

Convert fans to racers! Come and give it a go! It’s self -fulfilling; the more people who race, the more promotion that will come of it.

When you retire from competition, would you like to stay involved with cycling in some capacity, perhaps as a National Federation official?

Retire?!? I don’t think of it like that. I can’t imagine right now making a conscious decision to stop racing. But yes, if I ‘hung up my cleats’ I can imagine I would stay involved, but probably at a grass roots level and still as a rider in some capacity.

Which is your favourite race? Why?

I have to say the Cheshire Classic! Because I won it in 2013 and, for me, was a big achievement. But to name a few; Dave Peck Memorial, Banbury star, Curlew Cup, Rydale, Ras na mBan….all great races and organised very well.

What are you reading at the moment?

This question (Sorry, you did ask). I’m not a big reader. The last book I read was in September and it was ‘Kite Runner’.

What’s on your iPod?

This is my current ‘rollers’ play list, don’t judge!!!

· Armand Van Helden, You don’t know me

· David Guetta, Gettin’ over

· Temper Trap, Sweet Disposition

· Jay Z Linkin Park, Big Pimpin/Papercut

· Wilkinson, Afterglow

· Martin Garrix, Animals

· Bastille, Icarus

· Justin Timberlake, various

· Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis, Various

· MGMT, Kids

· Artful Dodger, various

· Ann Lee, 2 times

Here’s a time machine which you can use to meet any rider from any point in history. Who will you be meeting?

No idea! No ambition to meet cyclists of the past. My love of cycling has little interest in the history, very much about the here and now. Would quite like to meet Mark Cavendish.

Last question, and it’s the one that top psychologists agree reveals more about a person than any other: which is better – cats or dogs?

I have to say Dog! I own a dog and not a cat! But to be honest I am not a huge fan of either!!! (apart from Gary the pug)